Thursday, July 28, 2016

Today, we’d like to offer our sincere thanks to everyone who donated to Imagine! during the 2015-2016 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016). During that time period, 777 donors gave more than $630,000 to support Imagine!’s mission of creating a world of opportunities for all abilities!

Donors included individuals, corporations, service organizations, foundations, and Imagine! employees. No matter the category, all of our donors share one thing in common: they believe in the potential of all. Check out the fun (and short) thank you video linked below.

Out & About will have adaptive bikes and trikes to share with riders, lawn games, face painting, food, a raffle, and are working on sharing even more fun! This event is FREE, but donations to support Out & About’s efforts to create a world of opportunity for all abilities are greatly appreciated.

As team Last Minute, Ania Young, Cassandra Mathias, and Kristin Cowin with IBHS, Michael Derby, and Ercol Acri with CORE/Labor Source, and Scott Wendelberger with Out & About ran at altitude during the day and night, over hills and through the woods, in the cold and heat.

Originally, the team predicted that they would finish the race in 26 hours, but they bested that goal in finishing the race together in 24:08:21:13. If you’re curious about this event, you can learn more about the Ragnar Relay race series by clicking here.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

This story was shared by Imagine!’s Charles Family SmartHome team members Alex Prokop and Christopher DiRosa.

The Imagine! team at the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont are excited to share news about residential efficiencies that we’ve been implementing over the past several months.

Here are some of the highlights:

Our team has been utilizing an iPad to synchronize a shared house calendar of all individuals’ appointments, outings, and important reminders for team members during shifts. We have also synchronized this shared tool with staff smartphones, as well as with house computers to provide a singular information. This has been effective in coordinating a wide range of activities and tasks from group outings, to tracking healthcare observations to identify and report health concerns to nursing, as well as new doctor orders.

By utilizing the iPad in this manner, our team is ensuring that all individuals are getting the highest level of care from staff by keeping our team informed and on time for appointments. Additionally, information and medication changes are being communicated more easily across multiple departments in a timelier manner.

The iPad has also been integrated with MedSupport to create a mobile platform for medication administration anywhere in the house or in the community where we have Wi-Fi access. This mobile tool has also been set up with a singular email with direct communication with our house nurse and other key staff so that important changes to medication or care needs can be accessed and acknowledged with greater efficiency. Through these enhancements, we at the Charles Family SmartHome have seen a trending reduction in medication errors at the house over the past three months.

Video conferencing has also been established so that house leadership, parents, guardians, and other team members can easily contact the house from off-site locations using video conferencing applications like Facetime. Residents are also using technology to develop their independence as contributing members of the Longmont community.

Example pictures above include Michelle (top photo), using a Powerlink attached to a simple switch on her chair to help puree her own food. Other residents have used the Powerlink to help prepare meals for the house, grind coffee, and to bake cookies. Residents are also using the iPad to increase their own skills and independence around the house and personally. Additionally, residents have used online resources to register to vote, shop online, and make online purchases.

Anthony (pictured above lower left) likes using an application called My Journal (available for Android and Apple). He uses this application to talk about his day and his emotions. He accomplishing this by speaking into the iPad, which uses built in dictation on the device. Anthony also uses the iPad to contact his family and friends using Facetime, and to check-in with Facebook to keep up with the news of the day with friends and family.

Stacey (pictured above lower right) enjoys using the iPad to check the daily weather forecast and to update the house to ensure we’re all informed and prepare for the day accordingly. She does this by first identifying the weather app and then using a new wireless Bluetooth switch which is connected to the iPad so that she can navigate applications with minimal staff supports.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

One of Imagine!’s Innovations department’s recognition programs is to name staff members each month who have gone above and beyond in providing services. This program was designed to recognize and thank employees and providers in the categories of:

Health, Safety, and Wellbeing

Effectiveness and Efficiency

Respect and Dignity

Opportunities

Integrity

Care

All employees who are given a Heroic Award within a month time period become eligible for being named the “Super Hero of the Month.”

We are very proud to announce that this month’s Innovations “Super Hero of the Month” is MargaretKuwata, who has worked at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome, and is transitioning to work as a Host Homes Coordinator within Innovations.

Below is some information from Margaret’s nomination, which shows why she was selected as this month’s recipient by his colleagues:

Due to some major departmental transitions underway, Margaret has been working extra hours each week to help cover many of the assistant site supervisor responsibilities at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome. Her extra effort has been a great help to the house and to Innovations as a department. Margaret has taken the initiative to help solve issues as they occur, while keeping team members up-to-date on the solutions. She has done a fantastic job as the interim assistant site supervisor. In addition, Margaret is always willing to plan outings that are meaningful to the individuals she supports.

When you see Margaret, please congratulate her for her hard work and dedication!

This event will be on Monday, August 8, from 5:00PM to 9:00PM at The Kitchen Next Door, located at 1035 Pearl Street in Boulder.

The Kitchen Next Door will be donating 50% of their sales to Imagine! from participating tables (mention that you came for Imagine! so that your table is counted as a participating table).

The Kitchen restaurants are built by a community of artisans, serving food and drink from local farmers, ranchers, and purveyors for the sustainable enjoyment of the whole community. Please be sure to thank The Kitchen Next Door for their support of Imagine!.
Please put these dates on your calendar and share with your family and friends to help benefit Imagine!.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Congratulations are in order for Shannon Oleson, who works for Imagine!’s Out & About department, on being selected as the July 2016 recipient of the Imagine! Excellence in Customer Service Award.

Here is some information from Shannon’s nomination, which ably demonstrates why she was selected as this month’s recipient:

Shannon has been a wonderful and valuable team member of Out & About for years. When working directly with people in program, she is caring, adaptive, understanding, and versatile in her abilities to meet the needs of anyone she is supporting. As the Vehicle Coordinator for Out & About she always puts participants’ safety, wellbeing, and experience as first priority. Shannon sets a high standard for quality and demonstrates it in her own work every day.